Prime Minister Abbott visits Iraq

News Corp Australia can also reveal that the initial deployment had been boosted in secret by other troops from “various units in Sydney”.

A Defence spokesman told News Corp Australia that the 200 had been supplemented by a “small number of soldiers from various units in Sydney” who deployed under Operation OKRA in the past month.

When asked for details and the purpose of the additional deployments defence said it “will not provide specific details of the movements of personnel deploying to Operation OKRA at this time.”

It also refused to confirm that secret planning had begun for more troops to be deployed to Iraq from conventional army units in Townsville and elsewhere.

“Australia looks forward to continuing to talk to Iraq, the US and our partners in the Gulf about what we can usefully do as a nation and as a coalition partner to make the world a safer place and to make Australia a safer country,” the spokesman said.

AUSTRALIAN SPECIAL FORCES: How they entered Iraq

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Ready to go … a Special Forces soldier, from the Special Operations Task Group, shoots at a target during a rapid shooting practice in the Middle East. Picture: Sergeant Hamish Paterson, 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit Source: Supplied

Mostly from the Sydney based 2 Commando Regiment, many of the elite troops have been away from home since September-October last year, but had conducted little or no training.

According to well-placed sources this is not the mission that the highly skilled soldiers expected when they left home up to four months ago.

“The original idea was to go out and mentor Iraqi troops at the Brigade level and to be attached to the units,” a source said.

“Unfortunately most of the troops are sitting in the base doing very little and they are quite bored.”

The soldiers spent more than a month at Al-Minhad air base near Dubai and were only deployed to the ‘secure zone’ at Baghdad International Airport on November 20.

Proud to serve … Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, AC, with Commander of the Australian Forces in the Middle East Major General Craig Orme speak to a member of the Special Operations Task Group during a visit to the Middle East. Picture: Defence Source: Supplied

Their mission has started inside the Baghdad Diplomatic Security Centre with 40 Iraqi ‘students’ who are bussed in.

“The Special Operations Task Group is conducting the “advise and assist” mission from the Baghdad Diplomatic Security Centre, which is within the broader precinct of the Baghdad International Airport,” the Defence spokesman said.

One American source said that the Australians had rarely been seen “outside the wire”.

However the Defence spokesman confirmed that some troops had visited Iraqi forward operating bases with Commandos from the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service.

On target … a Special Operations Task Group soldier practices shooting drills on a live fire range at Australia’s main logistical base in the Middle East. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

“As required to advise and assist down to the battalion headquarters level,” the source said.

It refused to say how many had been outside the wire or for how long, but News Corp understands that most are permanently inside the ‘secure zone’.

In addition to tax free salaries the 200 elite diggers are paid a tax free allowance of $150-a-day, or about $15,000 each so far for their time in the Middle East. That is a total cost to taxpayers of some $3 million.

Another 400 RAAF personnel based near Dubai are also paid tax free salaries and a daily tax free deployment allowance of $80.51.

Fighter jet crews who fly over Iraq automatically qualify for the higher rate of $150-a-day taking the cost of RAAF allowances to more than $3 million after 90 days.

On the job … unlike their army comrades these Royal Australian Air Force pilots are busy and happy. Picture: Defence Source: Supplied

Defence told News Corp Australia that the original 200 had been supplemented by a “small number of soldiers from various units in Sydney” who deployed under Operation OKRA in the past month.

When asked for details and the purpose of the additional deployments defence said it “will not provide specific details of the movements of personnel deploying to Operation OKRA at this time.”

It also refused to confirm that secret planning had begun for more troops to be deployed to Iraq from conventional army units in Townsville and elsewhere.

“Australia looks forward to continuing to talk to Iraq, the US and our partners in the Gulf about what we can usefully do as a nation and as a coalition partner to make the world a safer place and to make Australia a safer country,” the Defence spokesman said.